President’s New Freedom President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Commission on Mental Health

Executive Summary Executive Summary RecommendationsRecommendations

Vision StatementVision Statement

““We envision a future when everyone with a We envision a future when everyone with a mental illness will recover, a future when mental illness will recover, a future when mental illnesses can be prevented or cured, a mental illnesses can be prevented or cured, a future when mental illnesses are detected future when mental illnesses are detected early, and a future when everyone with a early, and a future when everyone with a mental illness at any stage of life has access to mental illness at any stage of life has access to effective treatment and supports - essentials effective treatment and supports - essentials for living, working, learning, and participating for living, working, learning, and participating fully in the community.”fully in the community.”

Barriers to CareBarriers to Care

The Commission identified three obstacles The Commission identified three obstacles preventing Americans with mental illnesses preventing Americans with mental illnesses from getting the excellent care they deserve: from getting the excellent care they deserve: – Stigma that surrounds mental illnesses, Stigma that surrounds mental illnesses, – Unfair treatment limitations and financial Unfair treatment limitations and financial

requirements placed on mental health benefits requirements placed on mental health benefits in private health insurance, and in private health insurance, and

– The fragmented mental health service delivery The fragmented mental health service delivery system.system.

Barriers (cont’d)Barriers (cont’d)

The report also described the extent of The report also described the extent of unmet needs and barriers to care, including: unmet needs and barriers to care, including:

Fragmentation and gaps in care for children, Fragmentation and gaps in care for children, Fragmentation and gaps in care for adults with Fragmentation and gaps in care for adults with

serious mental illnesses, serious mental illnesses, High unemployment and disability for people with High unemployment and disability for people with

serious mental illnesses, serious mental illnesses, Lack of care for older adults with mental illnesses, Lack of care for older adults with mental illnesses,

and and Lack of national priority for mental health and suicide Lack of national priority for mental health and suicide

prevention. prevention.

Goals in a Transformed Mental Goals in a Transformed Mental Health SystemHealth System

Goal 1: Understanding that mental health is Goal 1: Understanding that mental health is essential to overall health is fundamental for essential to overall health is fundamental for establishing a health system that treats establishing a health system that treats mental illnesses with the same urgency as it mental illnesses with the same urgency as it treats physical illnesses.treats physical illnesses.

1.1 Advance and implement a national campaign to 1.1 Advance and implement a national campaign to reduce the stigma of seeking care and a national reduce the stigma of seeking care and a national strategy for suicide prevention. strategy for suicide prevention.

1.2 Address mental health with the same urgency as 1.2 Address mental health with the same urgency as physical health.physical health.

Goals (cont’d)Goals (cont’d)

Goal 2: Mental Health Care Is Consumer and Family DrivenGoal 2: Mental Health Care Is Consumer and Family Driven

2.1 Develop an individualized plan of care for every adult with a 2.1 Develop an individualized plan of care for every adult with a serious mental illness and child with a serious emotional serious mental illness and child with a serious emotional disturbance.disturbance.

2.2 Involve consumers and families fully in orienting the mental 2.2 Involve consumers and families fully in orienting the mental health system toward recovery. health system toward recovery.

2.3 Align relevant Federal programs to improve access and 2.3 Align relevant Federal programs to improve access and accountability for mental health services.accountability for mental health services.

2.4 Create a Comprehensive State Mental Health Plan.2.4 Create a Comprehensive State Mental Health Plan.

2.5 Protect and enhance the rights of people with mental 2.5 Protect and enhance the rights of people with mental illnesses.illnesses.

Goals (cont’d)Goals (cont’d)

Goal 3: Disparities in Mental Health Goal 3: Disparities in Mental Health Services Are EliminatedServices Are Eliminated

3.1 Improve access to quality care that is 3.1 Improve access to quality care that is culturally competent.culturally competent.

3.2 Improve access to quality care in rural 3.2 Improve access to quality care in rural and geographically remote areas.and geographically remote areas.

Goals (cont’d)Goals (cont’d)

Goal 4: Early Mental Health Screening, Assessment, and Referral to Goal 4: Early Mental Health Screening, Assessment, and Referral to Services Are Common PracticeServices Are Common Practice

4.1 Promote the mental health of young children. 4.1 Promote the mental health of young children.

4.2 Improve and expand school mental health programs. 4.2 Improve and expand school mental health programs.

4.3 Screen for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders 4.3 Screen for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders and link with integrated treatment strategies. and link with integrated treatment strategies.

4.4 Screen for mental disorders in primary health care, across the 4.4 Screen for mental disorders in primary health care, across the lifespan, and connect to treatment and supports.lifespan, and connect to treatment and supports.

Goals (cont’d)Goals (cont’d)

Goal 5: Excellent Mental Health Care Is Delivered and Research Is Goal 5: Excellent Mental Health Care Is Delivered and Research Is AcceleratedAccelerated

5.1 Accelerate research to promote recovery and resilience, and 5.1 Accelerate research to promote recovery and resilience, and ultimately to cure and prevent mental illnesses. ultimately to cure and prevent mental illnesses.

5.2 Advance evidence-based practices using dissemination and 5.2 Advance evidence-based practices using dissemination and demonstration projects and create a public-private partnership to demonstration projects and create a public-private partnership to guide their implementation.guide their implementation.

5.3 Improve and expand the workforce providing evidence-based 5.3 Improve and expand the workforce providing evidence-based mental health services and supports.mental health services and supports.

5.4 Develop the knowledge base in four understudied areas: 5.4 Develop the knowledge base in four understudied areas: mental health disparities, long-term effects of medications, mental health disparities, long-term effects of medications, trauma, and acute care.trauma, and acute care.

Goals (cont’d)Goals (cont’d)

Goal 6: Technology Is Used to Access Mental Goal 6: Technology Is Used to Access Mental Health Care and InformationHealth Care and Information

6.1 Use health technology and telehealth to 6.1 Use health technology and telehealth to improve access and coordination of mental improve access and coordination of mental health care, especially for Americans in remote health care, especially for Americans in remote areas or in underserved populations. areas or in underserved populations.

6.2 Develop and implement integrated 6.2 Develop and implement integrated electronic health record and personal health electronic health record and personal health information systems.information systems.